Newton MVP; Brown 2nd in offensive honor

SAN FRANCISCO -- Cam Newton is now a Super Bowl quarterback with an MVP award.

Offensive player of the year, too. And his coach, Ron Rivera, owns a second NFL honor as well.

Newton, the Carolina Panthers star, won The Associated Press NFL most valuable player and offensive player of the year awards Saturday night at NFL Honors.

"It means so much, but not just for myself," Newton side in a video acceptance speech for the MVP award. "To be the first person in Panthers history to win it -- that's what I'm most proud about. I've received a lot of awards, but to be able to get this organization here, I'm really proud. We didn't get in this position by happenstance. It took years of hard work and dedication, and now we are reaping the benefits."

Newton was not on hand because he was kind of busy preparing for a little game today against Denver. But just as he has for much of the week -- for most of the season, really -- Newton still was a dominant figure.

His father, mother and two brothers accepted the offensive player award.

"Cam took an unconventional journey to get here and we're just so proud of what has happened, my family and I," Newton's father Cecil said. "So many thanks go out to so many people, from Pop Warner to the Panthers. I don't have time to tell you all, 'Thank you.' You know who you are. We know who you are."

Newton was a landslide choice for MVP with 48 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the NFL. Fellow quarterbacks Tom Brady and Carson Palmer each received one vote.

Newton earned 18 votes for top offensive player. Steelers receiver Antonio Brown was next with 10.

Rivera led the Panthers to an unprecedented third consecutive NFC South Division title and two playoff victories. In a season featuring several outstanding coaching jobs, Rivera easily outdistanced the field. He received 361/2 votes, far in front of Kansas City's Andy Reid with six votes.

Rivera also won the award two years ago. He dedicated this one to his late brother, Mickey, who died recently.

Another outstanding player, Houston end J.J. Watt won his third defensive player of the year award in five pro seasons. He also won it in 2012 and a year ago, when he was a unanimous choice.

This time, in tying Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the only players to take the award three times, Watt earned 37 votes.

Kansas City safety Eric Berry gave an emotionally charged speech while accepting comeback player of the year. At one point, his eyes welled with tears and he paused before accepting the award. Berry missed 10 games the previous season battling lymphoma, then returned to the Chiefs to become an All-Pro. His inspirational story and superb performance on the field earned him 38 votes.

Rams running back Todd Gurley took offensive rookie with 27 votes, well ahead of the 17 for Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, the first overall pick int he 2015 draft.

San Francisco receiver Anquan Boldin received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for his off-field work.